The popular science magazine Quest is launching an interactive website to make science more accessible and exciting for learners. It will be demonstrated using groundbreaking technology developed at the CSIR Meraka Institute.

The website, QuestInteractive, will be launched by the publisher of the magazine, the Academy of Science of South Africa, at the SciFest 2010 festival in Grahamstown this week. It will be demonstrated using groundbreaking technology developed at the CSIR Meraka Institute.

QuestInteractive will primarily complement the quarterly print publication of the magazine but will also allow for vastly increased accessibility to and dissemination of up-to-date information on international and South African scientific research and achievements in a way that both supports the science curriculum and stimulates an interest in science among secondary school students and the general public.

The print magazine is funded by the Department of Science and Technology and supported by the Department of Basic Education, whose aim is to make Quest the most widely read popular science magazine in the country.

The material in Quest and on QuestInteractive is based predominantly on published research papers in peer-reviewed journals, which allows researchers to reach a wider audience. The articles are presented in a way that makes them understandable to a non-academic audience and all are illustrated in full colour. Articles featured in the print magazine are further explored on the website without the limitations set by printed material. The website caters particularly to the younger audience and features videos, topical science issues and information, and science games.

The website will be showcased at the SciFest 2010 Festival using the Digital Doorway TM. This robust, standalone system is the outcome of an initiative funded by the Department of Science and Technology. It is aimed at promoting self-learning of computer and information skills across South Africa. The CSIR Meraka Institute, a unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has been responsible for the early development and implementation of this DST-funded project.

The Digital Doorway TM initiative also seeks to enable end-users to interact with technology on their own terms and transfer learning to communities.

Jointly issued by the Academy of Science of South Africa and the CSIR:

Patricia Scholtz
Communication Manager
Academy of Science of South Africa
Tel +27 12 349 6618
Cell + 27 82 550 0757
E-mail: patsy@assaf.org.za
www.assaf.org.za

About the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is the official national academy of science and represents the country in the international community of science academies. As collective resource, the Academy enables the generation of evidence-based solutions to national problems. The strategic priorities of the Academy are closely matched to those of the nation, focusing particularly on the need for the greatly enhanced availability of high-level human capital and an increased use of the country's best intellectual expertise in generating evidence-based policy advice that is practical and feasible.